2-887-619 - Historic England Archive/Heritage Images

Severn Bridge, M48, Aust, South Gloucestershire, 11/11/1987. A Laing worker standing on a platform at the top of the Aust tower of the Severn Bridge while shielding his eyes from the sun. The original design and construction of the Severn Bridge had under estimated the increased volume of traffic since its completion in 1966 and whilst built to last 120 years it was found to require remedial work after just 20. Laing Industrial Engineering & Construction won the £29.5m contract from the Department of Transport and strengthening work on all elements of the structure began in May 1987. The project was completed in April 1990 in the same year that Laing jointly won the contract for the construction of the second Severn Crossing that would take the traffic pressure off the first bridge and extend its lifespan even further. The photograph was taken during strengthening work undertaken by Laing. It was published in the December 1990 issue of Team Spirit, the Laing company newsletter. The view shows the deck of the bridge below stretching out towards the South Wales landscape.